Emergency knuckle-sleeve.



No. 817,349. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. W. F. TAYLOR. EMERGENCY KNUCKLESLEEVE. APPLICATION rmm mam, 190s.

No. 817,349. v PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. W. P. TAYLOR.

EMERGENCY KNUCKLE SLEEVE AIPLIOATION FILED MAR.1'I, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 can s r run EMERGENCY KNUCKLE-SLEEVE.

To a, whom it may concern.-

Be it knownf that I, WILLIAM F. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin,have invented a new and useful Emergency Knuckle-Sleeve, of which thefollowing is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide a device for taking up theslack in automatic carcouplers between the knuckle of said coupler andthe draw-head of said coupler caused by the wearing out or wearing awayof the iron p'arts of said coupler, particularly the surface arts of theknuckle and drawhead of sai coupler which ordinarily come in contact, orthe knuckle-pin which holds the knuckle in proper place in the drawhead,or the knuckle-block which holds the knuckle in proper place whenknuckle is closed. WVhen automatic couplers are new, their various partswhen coupled together fit closely and there is little play between thetwo couplers. As they are used more and more the surface of the partscoming in contact or other loose parts are worn away by friction or bythe twisting and bending of the iron parts due to the motion of the carsuntil the parts he come more loosely fitting and continue so until thereis a large amount of slack between the parts coming in contact, and thusthe cars are given more motion and play in all directions, causing arough movement of the train, or the couplers are liable to pull apartwhen rounding curves or on rough track, causing the cars to separate andresulting in damage to persons and property and endangering life.

Itis the object of my device to take up slack between knuckle anddraw-head caused as aforesaid. It may be used to repair wornoutautomatic couplers, making them nearly as good as new, and it isparticularly valuable in cases ofemergency along the trains journey, asthe device can be applied without el'iort and without any loss of time,and the device being light and easily handled can be easily carriedready for use, whereas it is now required to re lace the worn-outknuckle by a new knuc (1e or the chaining up of the same, which requiresmuch effort, much time, i and consequent delay. The knuckle and chainbeing very heavy are also difficult to carry along. The said device is aknuckle-sleeve adapted to fit over the jaw or flat portion. of theknuckle. The construe Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 17,1905.

Patented April 10, 1906.-

Scrial No. 250.682.

tion and operation of the knuckle-sleeve are as hereinafter described,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 showsthe knuckle-sleeve complete. Fig. 2 shows base of knuckle-sleeve. Fig. 3shows top portion of knuckle-sleeve. Fig. 41 shows a perspective View ofthe knuckle-sleeve applied to a worn knuckle. Fig. 5 shows therailroad-car, the automatic coupler, the knuckle-sleeve applied to. theknuckle, together with chain attached to the knuckle-sleeve andconnected with the car.

The knuckle-sleeve is constructed or made of one piece of metal, (seeFig. 1,) formed or bent in shape to fit onto the knuckle. The part thatfits onto the flat surface or interior side of the knuckle is fiat (seeFigs. 1 and 2) and is sli htly thicker than the curved portion J. SeeFig. 2.) The remaining part, which is thinner,-is curved. (See Figs. 1,2 and 3.) The thick flat part C of the metal is bent at the top andextended horizontally, forming a flap or head, which rests on the top ofthe knuckle, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) thus keeping the sleeve in positionand preventing its slipping down. The top or i'lap G of the sleeve iscut away from and separate from the curved thinner portion J of thesleeve, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) leaving a space between top or flap Gand the to of the curved or thinner part J of the meta The object ofthis is to allow for the bending and automatic fitting of the curvedpart under the pressure of the parts of the coupler coming in contactwith it. The knuckle-sleeve may be made of any kind of metal, but maypreferably be made of malleable iron.

The top or flap has 011 its top part a loop D (see Fig. 1) for holdingthe chain B. (See Fig. 1.) The chain B is attached to the loop D. (SeeFigs. 4 and 5.) The other end of the chain is adapted to be connected tothe car, (see Fig. 5,) so that when the coupler is uncoupled theknuckle-sleeve will remain attached to the car, so that it cannot belost. The chain B, heretofore mentioned, may preferably be made three(3) feet three (3) inches long, with a hook F four 1) inches from end ofchain to top of hook. (See Figs. 1 and 5.) The outer portion or point ofhook may preferably be three and one-half (33;) inches from top topoint. The purpose of this is to prevent the chain being hooked tootight. The hook may preferably be made so as to insert in each and everylink of the chain, this to take up the slack, and thus avoiding damageto chain should chain be too long.

, From the foregoing description the operation and adaption of myinvention will be readily understood. The knuckle-sleeve fits over andaround the knuckle-jaw H. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) The thicker portion Cfits on the inner side of the knuckle H, (see Figs. 1 4, and 5,) the topor flap G (see Figs. 1, 3) fitting andresting on the top of theknucklejaw H. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) The knuckle H when then fitted intoposition within the coupler I (see Figs. 4 and 5) contains within it andthe coupler the knuckle-sleeve, which takes up the slack and makes thecoupler as a Whole compact and closely-fitting in all its parts, andunder the movement and heavy pressure of the cars the curved thinnerportion J of the sleeve is automatically bent or formed into therequired position or shape should it be applied to a new or badly-wornknuckle, and the chain B is also connected with the car, if desired,thus providing for the care of the knuckle-sleeve.

Having thus described my inventionavhat I claim, and wish to patent, is

.1. A knuckle-sleeve having a square or fiat portion and an extendedcurved portion, and

0 a horizontal top or flap extended from or con nected with the fiatportion, but separate and distinct from the curved portion,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A knuckle-sleeve having a square or fiat portion and an extendedcurved portion, the fiat portion beingthicker than the curved portion,and a horizontal top or flap extended from or connected With the fiatportion,

portion; substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A knuckle-sleeve having a square or fiat portion and anextendedcurved portion, and a horizontal top or flap-extended from or connectedwith the flat portion, but separate and distinct from the curvedportion, and a loop attached to the top portion of the top with chainattached to loop, the other endof chain being provided with hooksubstantially as and for the purpose specified;

4. A knuckle-sleeve having a curved portion with a top or flap extendedfrom or connected with the sleeve horizontally at its upper end Wherethe sleeve fits onto the interior side of the knuckle.

I WM. F. 'TAYLORn Y WVitnesses:

F. B. WiNsLow, T. J. CONNOR.

but separate and distinct from the curved

